26 Jun Ex Machina Review

Every Action has it’s Consequence

From the writer of 28 Days Later and Sunshine comes Ex Machina, the slick and futuristic thriller from first time director, Alex Garland. Skillful programmer at a large Internet search company, Caleb Smith (Domnhall Gleeson), wins a weeklong trip to a secluded mountain estate occupied by his arrogant, yet brilliant CEO, Nathan Bateman (Oscar Isaac). Nathan immediately gets down to business and introduces Caleb to his latest experiment, Ava (Alicia Vikander), the flawlessly beautiful female A.I. In order to determine whether Ava is a success or not, Caleb’s job is to become familiar with her personal capabilities, while constantly being monitored on film by Nathan. As Ava exposes Nathan’s threatening secrets, Caleb becomes attached to her on an emotional level and subsequently finds that she is not the only one being tested.

ExMachina not only proves that Alex Garland is an accomplished director, but a visual artist that can successfully captivate his audience through scenery and technology. After Caleb travels over breathtaking mountain views to Nathan’s remote research lab in a helicopter, he enters the minimalistic home with walls made of glass that expose the wilderness landscape in almost every room. In order to get into a room, you must use a key card that grants you access into a space often full of stainless steel, mirrors, fluorescent lights, and computers. While Ava is never found in these research rooms, the most intriguing scenes are when the focus is on her. Breakout star, Alicia Vikander, is mesmerizing as the A.I., pulling viewers in with her gaze. The embodiment of the perfect manmade woman, Ava represents the power of human intervention in technology and the ethical complications it often creates. As a science fiction thriller that is not only entertaining, but also very impactful, viewers will be discussing Ex Machina even after the credits roll.